Public invited to meeting about George Street Park

Published: Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 04:50 PM.

A public meeting will be held Monday at Stanley White Recreation Center to introduce a proposal for renovating the George Street Park.

The city has created display materials showing the new park design and is inviting the public to look at the materials now on display at Stanley White Recreation Center and provide feedback. The public meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the proposal, review the plans and answer any questions.

The proposed renovations to George Street Park include converting the remnants of an old tennis court into a skateboard park, providing a picnic shelter and improving and extending sidewalks around the perimeter of the park to create a family-friendly walking area. The basketball court will remain intact.

The two-acre park at 811 George St. currently has a sprayground and restroom facility, a basketball court, senior center and parking area.

Thurman Hardison, director of New Bern Parks & Recreation, said youths have been interested in development of a skateboard park for years.

“When the city recently underwent a Parks & Recreation Master Plan update, we received several survey responses showing a skate park is still of great interest,” Hardison said. “The kids don’t have a safe place to skate and, if we can, we’d like to accommodate that.”

About a year ago, a petition was started to get a skateboard park in New Bern and the issue has been brought before the New Bern Board of Aldermen in the past.

A public meeting will be held Monday at Stanley White Recreation Center to introduce a proposal for renovating the George Street Park.

The city has created display materials showing the new park design and is inviting the public to look at the materials now on display at Stanley White Recreation Center and provide feedback. The public meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the proposal, review the plans and answer any questions.

The proposed renovations to George Street Park include converting the remnants of an old tennis court into a skateboard park, providing a picnic shelter and improving and extending sidewalks around the perimeter of the park to create a family-friendly walking area. The basketball court will remain intact.

The two-acre park at 811 George St. currently has a sprayground and restroom facility, a basketball court, senior center and parking area.

Thurman Hardison, director of New Bern Parks & Recreation, said youths have been interested in development of a skateboard park for years.

“When the city recently underwent a Parks & Recreation Master Plan update, we received several survey responses showing a skate park is still of great interest,” Hardison said. “The kids don’t have a safe place to skate and, if we can, we’d like to accommodate that.”

About a year ago, a petition was started to get a skateboard park in New Bern and the issue has been brought before the New Bern Board of Aldermen in the past.

“A lot of folks who were interested in it in the past are still interested in it,” Hardison said.

Although the George Street Park is not one of the more heavily used parks in New Bern, a skateboard park could increase its use, Hardison said.

By adding a walking trail, Hardison said he hoped it would appeal to many of the senior citizens who visit the senior center.

“We are working with them and encouraging them to participate and get outside and enjoy it,” Hardison said. “Now mostly young people use it. The walking trail may get more seniors involved in the park.”

Hardison said he will present a grant application Tuesday to the New Bern Board of Aldermen. The total renovation project is expected to cost $150,000. If the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant is awarded by the state, the city would have to pay half the matching funds.

New Bern Parks and Recreation has received grant from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund in the past for the Pleasant Hills Park and renovations at Stanley White Recreation Center, Hardison said.

George Street Park was constructed in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was part of the George Street Recreation Center, which is now the senior center. In the late 1970s, the park underwent its first renovation, which brought the addition of the basketball court and tennis court.

Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at eddie.fitzgerald@newbernsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @staffwriter3.